Get to Know Monroe, LA

Were you a fan of AETV’s Duck Dynasty, a show following the Robertson Family and their Duck Commander brand? If so, then you’ve already had your first glimpse of Monroe, Louisiana! This charming small town has the classic hospitality and landscape you’d expect from living in Louisiana.

With its beautiful rolling hills, friendly people, and fascinating cultural heritage, it’s easy to see why Monroe is an attractive place to call home. Monroe’s plentiful outdoor activities are sure to keep your family entertained for hours on end. But you don’t have to be into fishing, duck hunting, or hiking because modern Monroe also has north Louisiana’s largest shopping mall, some one-of-a-kind museums, and craft breweries.

For our look at this corner of Louisiana, we’ve included Monroe and West Monroe, two towns that face each other on the Ouachita River banks. So get to know a bit about living in Monroe and its real estate market.

Where is Monroe, LA?

Monroe anchors northeastern Louisiana as the county seat for Ouachita Parish. The city grew

along the Ouachita River banks, becoming a hub for communities across the Ouachita Valley.

Even though it’s well inland from the Gulf of Mexico, the landscape is just 72 feet above sea level. That’s why there are so many creeks, lakes, and bayous. That same landscape makes this a sportsperson’s paradise for fishing and hunting.

West Monroe lies on the western side of the river, as does Brownsville, Claiborne, and the outlying suburbs. Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge is just north of Highway 165, and there are three more wildlife refuges inside Parish limits. So for outdoorsmen, there’s plenty of wild ground to cover.

What is the cost of living in Monroe, LA?

One of the perks of living in Louisiana is its affordable cost of living. Monroe is one of the less expensive cities to call home in this southern state. Your overall expenditures will run you about 19% less than the reported national going rate and about 10% less than the state rate.

While health care will typically cost you more, you’ll find huge savings in housing, which runs about 66% below the national average. All your typical spending categories are typically under the national rate.

Is Monroe, LA, growing?

Depending on your point of view, Monroe could be stable or in decline. If it is in decline, it’s doing so slowly. Over the ten years from 210 to 2020, Monroe lost about 1,000 residents. It lost another 1%, or 500, from 2020 to 2021.

What is the average price of a home in Monroe, LA?

Monroe could be a place to check out if you’re interested in real estate investing. Only 46% of its residences were owner-occupied, signaling there’s demand for rental properties in this market.

In May 2023, the greater Monroe area had 501 homes for sale at the median list price of $200,000. These prices ranged from $11,500 for a 0.34-acre vacant lot to $5.9M for a 7,792 sq ft home on two acres.

This list price amount was actually down about 5% year-over-year. Looking back to 2020, Monroe’s list prices have been relatively stable, especially compared to other markets when they grew dramatically over the pandemic.

In West Monroe, there were 347 homes for sale at a median list price of $210,000. These ranged from $9,000 for a vacant lot to $1.5M for a 5,482 sq ft home on 31 acres that backed up to a hunting refuge.

If you zoom out to all of Ouachita County, there were 1,115 homes for sale at a median $210,000 list price for May 2023. This was also down 4.4% year-over-year.

Are there any condos or townhomes available in Monroe, LA?

Monroe does have some condo and townhome properties for sale, but they’re not as common as single-family homes. May 2023 only had two listings on the market, with prices ranging from $169,000 to $367,000. In both cases, your square footage was around 1,800-1,900 sq ft. The main differentiator was the downtown location and the recent renovation of the condo unit.

West Monroe was the same story, with just three listings priced from $135,000 to $410,000.

What is the property tax rate for Monroe, LA?

Louisiana is well-known for having affordable property taxes–the fourth-best rate in the US based on the average effective tax rate.

Ouachita Parish property taxes are charged as one mill= $0.001. So it takes 1,000 mills to make $1. The parish tax ranges from 79.11-136.38 mills as of 2023. Your assessment ratio is 10% of your residential property value.

For the City of Monroe, the total mills are 27.15. That includes taxes for recreation, the Purchase Gardens & Zoo, emergency services, and the airport. The West Monroe City millage rate was 0.00853 in 2022.

What neighborhoods are in Monroe, LA?

Monroe has numerous historical sections with beautifully built properties, but also newer developments, especially in the surrounding suburban small towns like Millhaven Estates, Lakewood Estates, and Richwood.

The downtown Garden District area along the Ouachita River is perhaps the most historic.

The grid-like layout makes walking around and down to the riverfront easy. Residents can visit Forsythe Park and Biedenharn Museum & Garden on the north side.

Morningside is across Bayou Desiard from the University of Louisiana-Monroe and sits near the intersection of Highway 165 and Highway 80 for easy travel around town. Residents have a Walmart neighborhood market and fast food options.

West Monroe may be a slightly smaller city, but it’s equally historic at 140 years old. Downtown is known as Antique Alley, which, as the name suggests, is a prized area for finding decades-old treasures, art, and gifts. A farmer’s market is held seasonally at the market on the Square.

The Monroe metro has many small towns or independent areas close enough to feel part of the Monroe area. These include Brownsville-Bawcomville, Claiborne, Town and Country, and Forest Park.

Are there any waterfront properties found in Monroe, LA?

If you dream of living where you look out your window to admire a peaceful waterfront view, Monroe could be an excellent place to look. Even though it’s northeastern Louisiana and not the coast, the metro area still had a combined 169 homes on the market with some waterfront in May 2023.

Why does Monroe have so much waterfront for an inland city? That’s because the Ouachita River and its watershed run through the region’s heart. The river meets up with the winding Bayou Desiard north of downtown. Several low-lying swamp lands, as are the Black Bayou Lake and Cheniere Lake, are part of the valley. Most of your waterfront living options will be creek, river, or lakefront.

That top $5.9 million listing mentioned before? Not only was it two acres, but it was on a small peninsula in Bayou Desiard. Many of Monroe’s $1M+ listings were waterfront on the meandering Bayou.

How is golf in Monroe, LA?

If you like to play but want to save a few dollars, Monroe has two public golf courses: Cheannault Park and Forsythe Park. The latter was once a Golf Digest top ten Louisiana course with a par 72 layout across 18 holes. Forsythe Park’s course is called the Johnny Myers or MUNY course and runs 9 holes.

But if you desire a country club experience, Bayou Desiard Country Club has the classic amenities of championship golfing, tennis, and pools. It takes pride in its history and in being a family-friendly gathering place for its members.

Frenchmans’ Bend along the Ouachita River is a semi-private country club with a par-72 course with five sets of tees. The play is 6,900 yards from the farthest set.

Are there golf course communities in Monroe, LA?

Frenchman’s Bend is under development, meaning you can find a golf course lot prepped with utilities and ready for your custom-built home. Some already-built homes may be for sale if you don’t want to wait for a build-out.

Another golf course option is to find a home along the Forsythe Golf Course, but this isn’t a formal community.

What areas are near Monroe, LA?

The Ouachita River provides opportunities for outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, and water sports. Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge, located just north of the city, has nature trails, bird-watching, and wildlife observation. A canoe launch is near the visitor center.

See animals from around the world at the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo. The children’s section has a petting zoo with miniature cows and goats, and the zoo hosts special events around Halloween and Easter.

The region around Monroe is known for its historic plantation homes. These include the Biedenharn Home and Gardens, the Kiroli Mansion, and other antebellum homes that offer glimpses into the area’s history.

What to know about living in Monroe, LA

This part of Louisiana is wet, even though it’s not coastal. Monroe receives abundant rainfall every year, averaging over 51 inches! Those rainfalls fill the bayous and rivers, keeping the land wet and fruitful. That same humidity can swelter in the summers, which have over 90 days above 90F degrees each year. So if you live here, get ready for the heat and the humidity.

Even though this is northeastern Louisiana, you’ll still find that classic Cajun culture embraced as part of the state’s identity. Restaurants specialize in Po’boys and crawfish, low country boils, and catfish.

Monroe also has some interesting moments in history. It’s where Coca-Cola was first bottled, and you can still buy a 5-cent Coke from the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens. The company’s founders also invested in what is today Delta Airlines, which started as an agricultural dusting company.

Monroe does have cultural attractions. The Monroe Symphony Orchestra and Masur Museum of Art contribute to the city’s arts scene. The Chennault Aviation and Military Museum, located in nearby Chennault International Airport, showcases the region’s military history and has some restored aircraft on display.

If you love to get outside fishing, hiking, or hunting but still want a town large enough to host family-friendly festivals and have indoor things to do, this could be your answer. Talk more about living in Monroe, LA, with a local real estate expert who can highlight the area’s advantages. Between West Monroe and Monroe proper, you can set up an easy-going and affordable lifestyle in this pocket of northeastern Louisiana.